He had been working there for about a year, a law enforcement source previously told the Advance.

According to court records, the store ordered $45,000 in lottery tickets. Sangiorgio said he displayed the tickets, then went one step further -- he grabbed a bunch at a time, eventually scratching off $30,000 worth of tickets.

He scored on some, and redeemed his $2,500 in winnings at other lottery sales outlets, said court records.

"I was scratching the Lotto tickets and cashing them in other locations," court papers quote Sangiorgio as telling cops.

Winning tickets or no, his employer was on the hook to the state Lottery Commission for the $30,000 in tickets that were scratched, the source told the Advance.

Sangiorgio entered his plea Thursday in Stapleton Criminal Court, according to online state court records.

Sentencing is slated for Dec. 8. The defendant is free on his own recognizance.

Sangiorgio's lawyer, Mark J. Fonte could not immediately be reached yesterday for comment.